I've Peaked...Now What?

I started playing chess about 2 months ago after a long, long layoff from casual chess. At first my playing got better rapidly. Now it seems as if I'm stuck in a rut and can't get any better. In fact, it almost seems that in some ways my game has a bit deteriorated.

On freechess.org, I'm about 1150.

Ideas?

What should I do at this stage?

I have Chessmaster 9000 and 10th editions; I have Chess Mentor and Chess Position Trainer; I have Chess Genius, and Hiarcs for the Palm pilot; and I have about 40 chess electronic books and 20 normal books - including about 8 problem/puzzle books.

Perhaps I've buried myself in so much stuff, I don't know what to do next.

Frank

As cliched and asinine as it sounds...I suggest you play more. Place your chess books on the shelf, close your chess programs and submerge yourself in games. I think people study too hard, and forget their real-life playing experience.

Certainly study. But I found my biggest improvement in chess when I'd play 5 or so chess games a day. By playing a lot, I think you're more apt to "raise to the next peak."

yeah, right.... nice advertisment....

The following three things probably make the biggest difference:

 1. Know your own game - analyze your own games afterward, figure out what you do right and what you do wrong. Your study can then be more useful

2. Tactics - start easy and drill until it's like learning your math facts. Seeing pins and double attacks automatically. Some puzzle books are way too hard for this.

 3. Thought process - play slow enough that you can really look through variations for both sides, blitz is useless for this.

Good luck. I started where you are and am playing at 1400-1500 level now. (1800 here).

Haven't read any yet.

play more and post your games for analysis on the game analysis forum... you have 1 game played here and you timed out early...  games you post don't have to have been played here.

I assume you're joking. 

No. I'm trying to craft a methodology to my improvement. I have everything I need to start. Just don't know where..

With a rating of 1150, I am sure your games are full of *stupid* tactical mistakes, hanging pieces, etc.

Don't study books!  First, learn how not to give your pieces away...

Just play games with a slow time control and be careful. Don't leave anything hanging! At 1150, that should be your only focus.

Make sure each one of your pieces is safe before you make your move. Check each piece twice!

Eventually you will get  a feel for the board, and won't have to concentrate so much on being careful. Then you can pay attention to strategy and attacking, and then you will really start to improve.

Also, nobody peaks at 1150.

I think at FICS people can peak at that level.

Looking at the site for this book it seems rather idiotic (it is promoted the same way as penis enlargement pills ), and after reading a couple of reviews like the one below I get very curious what you like so much about it:

 The late Tony Miles, a grandmaster, once reviewed this book for a magazine. Here was his review, in its entirety.

"Utter crap". I concur wholeheartedly. This book should never have been printed. I mourn the loss of the thousands of trees that were chopped down to provide the wood pulp necessary to print this blight upon the chess world.

I cannot express in strong enough language that this book should be avoided at all costs. Real chess players do not own this book. Ask anyone in the chess community if this book should be purchased, and once their laughter dies down, you'll get a "No."

If you wish to read a real opening manual, purchase Modern Chess Openings instead of wasting your money on this. 

I am not an expert,but it seems to me that you are confused.You can't study everything simultaneously.Assume that it was a subject at school or university.How would you deal with it?I believe that you can start with one book and one program.Then you can take from each book what you need each time you are looking for sth.I have one question.Why did you get so much stuff?Are you wiiling to read everything in your lifetime?

 I used to play physical sports until I hurt my knee. I'm used to studying and practicing from sun up to sun down. I have a job that allows a lot of free time to read and play chess. 

Also, when I started getting into chess, people that know I'm a book worm now started buying me chess books galore. Oh well - that's my curse. But I am having a blast playing...just trying to find the right way to get better.

In sports I did training and drills. I also read playbooks and other materials. I guess I feel the same way about chess. 

" Peaks" was probably the wrong term. I guess "slowed down" is a better phrase.

I feel I am playing better but my progress isn't as rapid as I'm used to in things I've done before. Chess is awesome and challenging.  

I have went to chesstempo.com, chessproblems.com, and the chess tactics server (can't recall the URL) and have touched a few puzzles. I also have these puzzle books:

303 Tricky Chess Tactics by wilson and albertson;

303 Tricky Checkmates by the same authors;

Take and Mate: 200 Chess Problems with a Twist by Albertson;

Award - Winning Chess Probelms by Hochberg;

1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate by Reinfield;

1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations by Reinfield;

Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games by Polgar.

I also have a bunch of older free PDF puzzle books I found online.

The other books I have (not electronic) are:

Weapons of Chess by Pandolfini;

Winning Chess Openings by Seirawan;

Winning Chess Tactics by Seirawan;

Winning Chess Strategies by Seirawan;

Improve Your Opening Play by Ward;

Pandolfini's Endgame Course;

The Reassess Your Chess Workbook by Silman;

The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Silman;

Silman's Complete Endgame Course.

I also have Chess Mentor and Chess Position Trainer programs, as well as the Chessmaster ones I mentioned in the first message.